Tirupati Laddu Ghee Case: ED Arrests Sukriti Foods Promoter Over Alleged Adulteration

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Kailash Chand Mangla, promoter of Sukriti Foods Pvt Ltd, in connection with its money-laundering investigation into the alleged adulteration of ghee supplied to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) for preparing the famous Tirupati Laddu prasadam.

Mangla was arrested by the ED's Hyderabad office on September 17 and was subsequently produced before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Visakhapatnam. The court remanded him to judicial custody.

According to the ED, its investigation found that the alleged adulterated ghee was manufactured using refined palm oil, palm kernel oil, palmolein and several chemicals, including MG-90, monoglycerides, Myvacet Soft 400 and acetic acid ester. The product was allegedly supplied as Agmark Special Grade Cow Ghee for use by TTD. �

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The agency has alleged that ghee supplies to TTD between 2019 and 2024, valued at around ₹230 crore, were fraudulent. Of this amount, the ED claims that Mangla manufactured approximately ₹96 crore worth of adulterated ghee at his factory.

The ED has further alleged that Mangla facilitated the procurement of adulterants and coordinated the supply of the alleged adulterated product through entities including Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialities, Malganga Milk & Agro Products and A.R. Dairy Foods.

Investigators also allege that false records relating to the purchase and sale of ghee and refined palm oil were created to conceal the alleged use of adulterants and give the appearance that genuine cow ghee had been manufactured and supplied. 

Mangla is the second promoter arrested in the ED's investigation. The agency had earlier arrested Vipin Jain, promoter and director of Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk, in connection with similar allegations. 

The case originated from an FIR registered at Tirupati East Police Station, involving allegations including conspiracy, cheating, forgery and corruption relating to the procurement and supply of ghee to TTD. The investigation remains ongoing. 

Important clarification: These are allegations made by the ED as part of an ongoing criminal investigation; the accusations against the arrested individuals have not yet been established as final findings of guilt by a court. Also, a September 19 report by The News Minute says a separate CBI-led SIT investigation into the underlying adulteration found that laboratory testing of the samples it examined did not establish the presence of animal fat.